For years I have cringed when I see people driving down the street with children, often babies, in the front seat sitting in someone's lap. Or children in the back, kneeling in the seat, waving to other motorists with their little faces pressed to the window. These children are obviously not in a child restraint device.

I haven’t editorialized the proposed biomass plant in Gretna because I’ve been writing about it, and didn’t feel it was fair to state my opinion on the matter while I am covering it.

But there are some things that have been drawn to my attention that I feel I need to address in this format.

First of all, ADAGE has said one of the best things about having its facility in Gadsden County would be the contributions it will make to the tax base. Is this before or after the estimated 80 percent tax abatement ADAGE plans to ask the county for?

I don't know how many young lives former Quincy Police Officer Theotis Moore touched. If anyone could count them it would, I'm sure, number in the thousands. Moore, before he retired 2 years ago, was the Drug Abuse Resistance Education officer. He travelled throughout the county from school to school and gathering to gathering in his white van with the big red DARE letters on the side. The message he carried was don't use drugs, stay away from gangs and stay in school.

Last week’s biomass summit was a true disappointment for me...for a lot of reasons.

First of all, chaos reigned, and not much was accomplished. The moderator was, bless his heart, trying to moderate, but did too much preaching and not enough moderating in my humble opinion. A firmer hand was definitely needed.

The panel was disappointing. It was stacked with people in support of the Gretna biomass plant, including an ADAGE official. The only exception was a member of the Gadsden County Concerned Citizens group. It should have been more balanced.

About a year ago, I volunteered to become a mentor in what is not your everday program – this one is special. It's called "Children With Promise" and it pairs women and men with children who have at least one parent incarcerated. It's more social mentoring than academic.

I had the privilege of attending the Special Olympics event at East Gadsden High School last week. It was cold and it was super windy, but it was awesome.

It’s been a while since I attended a Special Olympics event, and I had forgotten just how inspiring it is.

I was particularly captivated by this one young man who looked to be between 8 and 10 years old, who was using a walker to compete in a foot race. He didn’t have far to run/walk, but he was working as hard as he could, teeth gritted together, to make his way to the finish line.

I go to Sunnyvale Cemetery at the end of South Stewart Street fairly often. My parents and my oldest brother are there, side by side. It may sound morbid to some people but it gives me great pleasure to "visit" them. I feel a sense of relief when I walk away.

Sunday was a beautiful day and while I was doing much needed housework, I decided to go to the cemetery. I needed to tell them all of the good things that have been going on in my life. I also needed to say out loud some of the things I am reluctant to talk about to anyone.

Anyone driving at night on West Jefferson Street in Quincy should use extra care. For the past few months I have noticed an increase in the number of pedestrians who want to cross the street in places that are not well lit. Just this past week I was approaching the light at the Pat Thomas Parkway intersection when a man wearing dark clothing crossed the street near the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant parking lot.

Our office is mostly populated with women, therefore we are prone to some subject matter during our “hen parties” that you might not find in more diverse offices.

The other day, we were discussing our mothers, and the funny things they say and do, and I recounted the story of how I once (only once) told my mother that I could tell her eyesight wasn’t what it once was because I could see dust in her house. She quickly told me to get up off my “duff” and grab a dust rag and have at it.